Parents pick a baby name for many reasons. It may be a family name, a name picked from a top 100 list, or a special name they’ve held in their hearts for many years, knowing they would choose it for their baby.

However for some parents-to-be, a popular name just doesn’t cut the mustard. These guys opt for something completely different.

There are unusual baby name choices registered every year, and 2014 is no exception. Blockbuster films, books and mountains feature in our unusual list this year. There’s even a name that means "birth"!

What counts as an unusual name?

Simply put, it's a name that you're not likely to come across very often. All of this year's names were chosen for at least one new arrival in 2014, but didn't come anywhere near the top 100.

Unusual girls' names 2014

Logan: This unisex name is popular for boys, perhaps thanks to X-Men's Wolverine, whose real name is Logan. However, it's a much less common name for girls. Of Celtic origin, it has strong associations with both Scotland and Ireland. The Scottish Gaelic meaning is "little cove" or "small hollow", while the Irish is "meadow". In the US, common nicknames include Gunny, Logi and Low – perhaps we’ll see the shortenings featuring in future names lists?

Wren: Derived from the Old English Wrenna, Wren simply means "wren", like the small songbird. In 2014 the name hit the headlines when fashion designer and girlfriend of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, L’Wren Scott, sadly took her own life.

London: Names like Paris and Brooklyn have been around for a while, but now it looks like the UK's very own capital is getting in on the action. Perhaps parents have been taking a little inspiration from children's TV presenter and comedian London Hughes, known to her fans as Miss London? For a little extra variation, it can be spelt as Londen, Londun and Londyn.

Phoenix: Phoenix derives from the Greek word meaning "crimson". It can also signify rebirth thanks to the mythical bird of the same name, as seen in the Harry Potter books and films. It was first brought to the fore by the American actors and brothers River Phoenix and Joaquin Phoenix, in spite of it being their surname.

Indigo: Joining other colourful names like Amber and Jade, Indigo is the English word for the purplish blue colour and dye. Although we've all sung it in the rainbow song, it doesn't really crop up much in day-to-day usage. Sister names such as India have also been chosen by those parents wanting something a little off-piste in the name stakes.

Genesis: Deriving from the Greek word meaning "birth", the name Genesis has an interesting pedigree. Not many other names can boast that they're used for both a book of the Bible and a soft rock band! And now it's starting to show some popularity for mums and dads-to-be when naming their daughters.

Unusual boys' names 2014

Prince and King: Your little one may not be born into royalty, but you can still dream! Monarch-loving mums-to-be amongst us may have been influenced by their love of all things regal, with both Prince and King appearing in the list. King simply means "ruler", while Prince is derived from the Latin princeps, meaning "first" or "leader".

Junior: This American classic, which derives from the Latin word for "younger", is commonly used to distinguish a son from a father with the same name. Junior was brought into the UK mainstream by Katie Price after she chose it for the son she had with Peter Andre.

Hendrix: Synonymous with the rock legend Jimi Hendrix, this is a relatively common surname but hasn't often been used as a first name. However, with a couple of registrations this year, and surnames trending in general, could this be one to watch?

Braxton: It's not really surprising that Braxton is emerging as a boys' name, as it covers two current trends in one! Not only is it a relatively common surname, but it comes from the Old English meaning "from the bricks Town" or "from brica’s Town", which is an Old English place name.

Have celebrities had an influence on the unusual names of 2014?

Eric, Buzz, Bear and Ariana have all been chosen by those in the public eye this year. Since Simon Cowell named his baby son Eric, the name has risen by 314 per cent in 2014.

There's also been one other Buzz recorded since McBusted singer Tom Fletcher named his son after the Toy Story character Buzz Lightyear in 2013. And there’s now another little boy named Bear, perhaps due to the influence of actress Kate Winslet who named her son Bear in 2013?

Beyonce's Blue and Gwen Stefani's Apollo have also seen two more registrations each this year.

Celebrities don't always have a positive influence on names. Miley has dropped in popularity, which might be down to the controversy surrounding singer Miley Cyrus and her provocative twerking!

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